The state of Alabama paid $525,000 as part of a settlement of former Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier’s lawsuit against former Gov. Robert Bentley and others.

The state also paid a total of $498,456 in legal defense costs for four defendants in the case, making the total cost to taxpayers $1.02 million.

The state’s online checkbook shows the payment from the state Finance Department on May 29. The entry says the payment is for “legal claim & award.” The payment was made to the Jemison & Mendelsohn law firm, which represented Collier.

Gov. Kay Ivey’s office confirmed the $525,000 payment was for the lawsuit settlement.

Asked why the state would pay to settle the lawsuit, the governor’s office noted that the funds were paid from the General Liability Trust Fund, which was established in state law for coverage of "damages arising out of the negligent or wrongful acts or omissions committed by state employees or agents of the state.” (Code of Alabama, Section 36-1-6.1.

Collier sued Bentley, former Bentley political adviser Rebekah Mason, former ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler and others for what Collier said was a smear campaign used to justify Bentley’s decision to fire him as ALEA secretary in 2016.

Collier said he suffered professionally and personally and sought damages in the lawsuit. He and his wife filed bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy court records indicate the lawsuit settlement was $625,000, which would indicate the state did not pay the full amount of the settlement.

Earlier this month, Collier announced he was retiring as police chief in the city of Selma. He was later arrested in Daphne on a charge of filing a false police report and his wife requested a petition from abuse against her husband in Baldwin County’s Circuit Court.

Melissa Collier’ said her husband was “having problems with depression and anxiety and is under extreme pressure.”

Collier later issued a statement saying he would be exonerated.

The state paid the cost of legal defense for Bentley and three other state employees who were defendants in the lawsuit.

The amounts:

Bentley, $131,024.

Stabler, $176, 239.

ALEA attorney Michael Robinson, $177,204.

ALEA special agent April Bickhaus, $13,988.

Updated at 4:50 p.m. to add legal fees paid by state in the case.

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